Letter # 3 - Letter to the Church at Pergamos
Revelation 2:12-13 – “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”
The Two-edged Sword
In this, the third letter, the Lord Jesus introduces Himself as the one who has the shard two-edged sword. This is one of the images seen in the vision as recorded in Rev.1:16.
The word of God is referred to as a two-edged sword in Heb.4:12-13 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
By one look at the above verse it’s clear that the Lord’s word convicts us of sin – not just sins of word or deed, but even sins at a deeper level that pertain to our thoughts and intentions or motives. No one on earth can know another person’s thoughts or intentions, but God does, and He convicts us of such sins through His word. The verse goes on to say that we will have to give account for all such sins to the Lord when He returns.
Again in Ephesians 6:17 we see the word of God being referred to as a sword, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;”
WORDS OF COMMENDATION
I know your works
The Lord begins, as always, by commending this church for their works, referring to their faith in Him and the corresponding obedience to His word in the way they live their lives.
Where you dwell, where Satan has his throne
Jesus goes on to say in the same breath that He’s aware of where they live – a place, “where Satan’s throne is.” Perhaps this city, which was the capital city of Asia Minor was known for its Satanic practices, apart from its worship of many so-called gods. This would mean then, that the church would have been suffering persecution on account of its faith in the Lord Jesus, especially since faith in one true God (as opposed to their many gods), was both believed and preached, and because people believed in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead – a belief that no faith in the world claimed or claims even today. Notice the words, “Where Satan’s throne is,” meaning that this was the place from which Satan seemed to rule and carry out his schemes and plans. This was like his office set up as it were. More on this later.
You hold fast to My Name
Jesus goes on to commend them for holding fast to His name, despite all the persecution they must have been undergoing at the hands of Satan’s emissaries surrounding them. Sounds like some of the countries in our world today.
Did not deny my faith
When persecution comes, or sometimes, even the fear of persecution, some people tend to deny their faith in the Lord, just so they protect their lives, but not the church at Pergamos – they were firm in their faith in the Lord and did not deny His name despite their persecution.
In the days in which Antipas was My Faithful martyr who was killed among you
Jesus mentions the name of a faithful martyr called Antipas whom He refers to as His faithful martyr, who was martyred for his faith in Him, and He commends the church at Pergamos for their faith in Him, even during such perilous times.
Often persecution comes by way of killing followers of Jesus publicly, so as to instil fear in the hearts of other believers, and Jesus understands this, and therefore commends this church for not backing down in their faith and not being overcome by fear.
Where Satan dwells
Jesus adds another little detail concerning the place where Antipas was martyred – He calls it the place where Satan dwells. It appears that Pergamos was the place from which Satan both had his throne as well as his dwelling place. It seems like a work from home situation back in the day. There seems to have been no rest for the saints in Pergamos, who were under constant attack by the enemy – from his throne, and from his home.
What about us?
What do you think the Lord may say about us as individuals, as families, as a local church, as a city church, a national church and as a global church? Can we expect to hear the same words of commendation from the Lord, where He praises us for our faithfulness despite the persecution we face for the sake of Christ, and despite the threats to our lives?
WORDS OF CORRECTION
Revelation 2:14 – “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.”
After commending the church at Pergamos for their faithfulness to Him despite the place where they live and the threat they live with, Jesus goes on to pull them up for a few things. By few things, it’s evident that He was pleased with them for many things, but was displeased with them for just a few things. Let’s take a look at these few things.
Doctrine of Balaam
Jesus says that there were people in this church that held to the doctrine of Balaam, and He then goes on to explain what he meant by that statement. These people were putting a stumbling block before the people of God just as Balaam put a stumbling block before the children of Israel.
Stumbling Block
What was the stumbling block that Balaam put before the children of Israel? In Numbers 22-25, we read of the incident where Balak asks Balaam, the seer to curse the children of Israel. Balaam seeks the Lord to know how to respond, and even has a conversation with his donkey in the process, which actually saves his life from the wrath of the angel of God. Balaam refuses to curse them, and instead blesses them. In these three chapters, we don’t read anything of Balaam putting a stumbling block before the children of Israel, but we read in Numbers 26:1-3 - “Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel.”
The question we can have is, “When and how did Balaam put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, causing them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality?” The answer is found in Number 31:16, where it reads, “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.”
From the above verse it’s evident that Balaam had actually counselled people into both idolatry and sexual immorality. Perhaps Balaam eventually gave in to the offers of money from King Balak, and suggested another way of defeating God’s people, instead of cursing them. Sometimes, when the urge for money is great, some people are willing to do anything to make compromises. Balaam seemed to have been one such person.
Apostle Peter, while talking about false prophets and false teachers who would arise in the last days, said in 2 Peter 2:15,16: “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.”
Again, Jude, while talking about false prophets and false teachers who would arise in the last days, said in Jude 1:11: “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”
So it’s quite obvious that Balaam was actually out to fill his pockets with the wages of Balak, and was willing to do anything – even mislead God’s people in the process.
The Church at Pergamos seemed to have been as compromising as Balaam, and causing innocent believers to be misled into idolatry and sexual immorality, thereby being in danger of facing God’s wrath.
What about us?
• How are we fairing in the area of following false teachers who try to mislead us into unholy living to fill their own pockets in the process, while all along promising to fill ours as well?
• Are we guilty of teaching false doctrines that result in misleading God’s people into idolatry and sexual immorality? If we find ourselves guilty of such teaching then we too will be standing in danger of facing God’s wrath at His return.
The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans
Revelation 2:15 – “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”
Jesus then goes on to say that this teaching of Balaam was similar to the teaching of the Nicolaitans – a teaching the Lord hates. This teaching was also hated by the Church at Ephesus, and they too were commended by the Lord Jesus for hating that teaching.
It isn’t entirely clear what the teaching of the Nicolaitans was, but it is believed by some to be a permissive teaching that resulted in believers indulging in idolatry and sexual immorality, The word, ‘thus’ seems to suggest that the doctrine of Balaam was similar to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. The Lord is holy, and came into the world to transform our lives from unholy living to holy living. So any teaching that is permissive, and promotes unholy living goes against God’s character, and seeks to undo all that He did to make us holy. No wonder Jesus hates such teaching.
What about us?
• Do we hold any permissive, self-indulgent doctrine only because it appeals to our flesh?
• Do we teach such doctrines to others, thereby misleading them into permissive and self-indulgent living? If so we stand in danger of facing the wrath of Jesus, who is very particular about what we believe, because it’s our belief that dictates our behaviour.
WORDS OF CAUTION
Revelation 2:16 – “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
After all the words of commendation, followed by words of correction, the Lord then gives this church words of caution. He warns them that if they do not repent of their ways then He would come to them quickly, and fight against them with the sword of this mouth, referring to God’s word.
This same Word that brought the world into existence, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us, and taught us how to live and how not to live, will become the adversary of all those who rebel against Him, and it’s with His Word that the Lord will condemn such people to eternal punishment. So the best thing this church can do is to repent of their rebellious living and teaching or live to face the wrath of God.
What about us?
• If we hold any such permissive, self-indulgent teaching, and if we teach it to others, then the call is also to us to repent or else face the wrath of the Lord Himself.
Hidden manna
Revelation 2:17a – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.”
Now the Holy Spirit speaks to the churches and says that whoever overcomes the challenges of following Christ, will be able to eat of the hidden manna. There are so many interpretations to what this hidden manna could mean, but most of them seem to point to Jesus and His word right here on earth. But let’s take a closer look at this verse. It says, “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.” It seems like the Lord is referring to something that will be given to those Christians (at His return) who overcome the challenges of living the Christian life here on earth. The hidden manna could refer to the manna that the angels eat in heaven. For those who would hesitate to believe that angels eat food in heaven, here’s a verse from Ps.78:25 which says, “Men ate angels’ food; He sent them food to the full.” This verse refers to the time the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years and ate manna that God provided from heaven.
While the Lord Jesus said to the Church at Ephesus that those who overcome will eat from the tree of life, here He says that those who overcome will eat of the hidden manna.
What about us?
If we are to expect to eat of the hidden manna, let’s decide first that we are going to feast on the word of God right here on earth – and to live in a way that fulfils God’s purpose in our lives. We can’t neglect God’s word here on earth and expect to eat of His hidden manna in heaven.
A White Stone with a New Secret Name
Revelation 2:17b – “And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
Jesus goes on to say that He would also give the overcomers another gift – a white stone that has a new name written on it that no one knows except him who receives it. It’s not clear what this white stone with a new secret name could actually mean, but it does seem like it’s a reward for those who overcome the challenges of the Christian life here on earth. It’s something that the Lord will give to those who are counted worthy to enter heaven.
What about us?
If earthly paper certificates medals of gold, silver and bronze are so appreciated for good performance how much more should an award given by God for living a victorious life be looked forward to and worked towards achieving.
There are many things that are not clear to us pertaining to the eternal life that the Lord has in store for us in heaven. So let’s be content knowing that there’s a lot awaiting us in heaven.
